Thursday, December 23, 2010

When you are blessed with a wonderful job, a healthy and loving family and many non-necessities (e.g., new car, nice clothes, ski trips), it can be extremely easy to get wrapped up in all the glitter and sparkle of the holidays. And let me be clear, I don’t think anything is wrong with the sparkle – I live for Christmas carols, “Miracle on 34th Street” and gingerbread cookies.

However, just a few blocks from my candy cane lane is a place called Tennyson Center for Children, a treatment center and K-12 school for emotionally and crisis-affected children and youth, particularly those suffering from abuse and neglect. GroundFloor Media’s (GFM) president and founder Laura Love-Aden has been personally involved with Tennyson for more than six years and has introduced many GFM colleagues to the center via local leadership programs, GFM’s Get Giving program or pro-bono PR work. Still being somewhat new to GFM this year I hadn’t had the opportunity to visit Tennyson Center before last week when we decorated one of the kids’ cottages, served dinner and handed out stockings.

From the moment I stepped into the cottage I had an overwhelming feeling of excitement about brightening the kids’ night, paired with a lump in my throat because I simply cannot fathom why those innocent and adorable young children have to cope with such tragic family situations – especially during the holidays.

Not many businesses are staffed by owners and employees who are as passionate about embracing a cause and making it a part of their everyday life as the people of GFM. As I watched the children smile in delight over the most basic presents – candy canes, Silly Putty and lip gloss – I became keenly aware that GFM has invited me to be a part of something special. We get to do great work for incredible clients. We celebrate our successes wholeheartedly and learn and grow from our failures. But none of those attributes of GFM compare to the way we give back together – the support we have from our leaders to step outside of our office to go experience real-world situations and try, in our own little way, to make a difference.

One young girl in particular left a major impact on me during my evening at Tennyson. She quietly said, “it’s okay, nobody likes me,” when I tried to negotiate with another child to let her hang the next string of lights. Later in the evening she walked over to me, carefully holding a snowman ornament that we had not donated. She said it was very special to her and let me help her gingerly hang it above her doorway, carefully testing the hook to make sure it wouldn’t fall. I can only wonder who gave it to her, when she got it, and what it means to her this holiday season – you cannot ask those questions of the children at Tennyson Center because you do not know what memories or feelings it will bring up for the child.

Without naming this little girl here, I want to wish her happy holidays and my deepest wishes for her to have a healthy, happy and safe 2011 and beyond.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

As the year draws to a close, it’s a good time to review the top 10 PR blunders of 2010 – and there are some doozies. Here are some of the best of the worst with input from Forbes.com and HuffingtonPost

Landing near the top of every list is British Petroleum (BP) CEO Tony Howard. Clearly, “wanting his life back” should have been the least of his worries after countless people along the Gulf had had their lives ruined after the BP oil rig exploded, killing 13 and spilling million of gallons of oil. To top it off, he also commented that the Gulf is “a very big ocean” and later attended a swank regatta days after being questioned by Congress about the spill. So much for getting his life back.

This next one is a bit more controversial, particularly if you are a Miami Heat fan. Up until this year, LeBron James sat on top of the basketball world. He had the poise, skills and savvy to back it up. But then came the media storm surrounding “The Decision” – LeBron’s announcement on live television about his decision to join the Heat. Fans from Cleveland and beyond now have a new player they love to hate – so much for humility.

Oftentimes, in media training with clients, GroundFloor Media warns that the moment they are in the presence of a television camera or reporter that everything is “on the record.” Carly Fiorina, former CEO of Hewlett-Packard and California Senate candidate, learned this the hard way. While doing a sound check for a television interview, a live microphone recorded her commenting about opponent Barbara Boxer’s hair. And the evening news quoted her as saying, “God, what is that hair? So yesterday.”

Toyota was riding the wave of record car sales when news about unintended acceleration on some of its best selling vehicles hit the media. Instead of controlling the issue by providing clear and accurate communications, the company fumbled by passing the buck, and at one point, even blaming drivers. Now Toyota has the honor of being the brand behind the biggest automotive recall since Firestone tires in 2000.

Here’s a rundown of some more of the most memorable “what not to do” PR moments of the past year:

• Messaging, messaging, messaging: U.S. Senate candidate Linda McMahon, who once ran World Wrestling Entertainment, admitted that she didn't know whether WWE paid any of its employees minimum wage and that she didn’t even know the dollar figure for Connecticut's minimum wage.• Spin isn’t the best defense: Craigslist standing behind its “Adult Services” category and not owning up to the fact that everyone else in the world knew what it was for. Fumbling through an interview on the topic, Founder Craig Newmark simply stopped talking and ended the interview by walking out of the room.• Beware of what you say online: Chocolate maker Nestlé showed its thin skin when it went after naysayers on Facebook, which just added fuel to the fire. The company’s Facebook page will never be used as a proactive marketing tool again.• One bad experience goes viral: Alaska Airlines didn’t win any customers over when one flyer’s ticket was given away because she was one minute late (because she was dealing with a child’s diaper emergency). The family posted the item on a blog, which caught the world’s attention and soon the media started calling. Instead of making it right, the airlines cited rules and procedures. Weeks later, they finally agreed to refund the family, but the damage had already been done.

As we head into 2011, there are a couple of lessons to learn from this year’s PR disasters. First off, social media networks are more and more becoming the median to highlight missteps. And tried and true media training is still a great defense for avoiding making next year’s list. Our team can help create a solid social media response plan and prepare your company for common and not-so-common pitfalls. Plus, we can offer you some good strategic counsel when best intentions fall off the deep end. LeBron, give us a call next time you switch teams.-- Gil Rudawsky

Friday, December 17, 2010

As I wrote in an earlier post this year (Cause Marketing is Thriving – Thanks to Moms and Millennials), cause marketing is alive and well in the U.S. despite the economic difficulties of the past several years, according to Cone’s 2010 Cause Evolution Study, released this fall. In fact, per the study, 83 percent of consumers want more of the products, services and retailers that they use to benefit causes. Looking back over 2010, while individuals and businesses may not have been able to give as much overall as in previous years due to the economy, the spirit of giving illustrated in Cone’s study has been clearly evident to us at GroundFloor Media.

Our clients continue to seek ways to become more involved in their communities. For example, Westwood College recently donated Netbooks, portable computer carts and interactive white boards to Skyline High School in Dallas in order to help the school meet its technology needs. Westwood IT students are also helping to repair previously donated computers and equipment so that they can be put back into classrooms and student homes.

In addition, Qdoba Mexican Grill continues to support the Starlight Children’s Foundation through the company’s CSR program.

And, at GroundFloor Media we are celebrating the successful launch in 2010 of our Get Giving program. Through this program, we collected and donated hundreds of items to nonprofits including PlatteForum, SafeHouse Denver, Dumb Friends League, Colorado Youth at Risk and Florence Crittenton Services. In addition, thanks to the generosity of partners and clients such as LiveWell Colorado, Westwood College, Young Americans Center for Financial Education, CCT Advertising, Bradley Consulting Group, Motive, BusinessWire Denver, Radius, Relish Studio and Activate, we were recently able to donate 11 large boxes of Christmas wish list items to the families of Denver’s Warren Village through our Get Giving “On the Road” holiday initiative.

Looking more broadly across Colorado, as many of you are no doubt aware, Community First Foundation and FirstBank presented the first annual Colorado Gives Day on Dec. 8. Their goal was to raise $1 million in one day for Colorado nonprofits through online giving. Individuals and businesses across the state literally blew that goal out of the water by donating more than $8 million in one day!

As news stories focusing on bad news continue to abound, it is incredibly encouraging, especially during this holiday season, to know that the drive to do good is so strong in Colorado. We look forward to an even brighter and more generous 2011!

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Have you ever wondered how you and your colleague think differently? Or, how you both can approach and execute the same project in a different way to achieve similar results? Earlier this week, our team participated in an Emergenetics team building workshop lead by one of the founders, Dr. Geil Browning. Talk about interesting stuff!

In case you are not familiar, Emergenetics is a brain-based psychometric assessment that highlights thinking and behavior. GFM team members Ramonna Tooley, Jim Licko and Barb Jones had all participated in the program during Leadership Denver with the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce Leadership Foundation. Ramonna was eager to get our entire team in the room to learn about it, and when the opportunity presented itself, she didn’t even think twice.

Most of the team didn’t know what to expect of the all-day off-site meeting. While some of us had anxiety about the “not knowing,” were freaked out when an agenda wasn’t presented at the beginning of the presentation, and were eager for the analytical part of the workshop to end so we could learn about our own profiles, one thing was clear – we were going to learn how to build upon our strengths, preferences and diversity to learn more about each other individually and as a team.

As I sit at my desk today and check the boxes off on my “typical” Jen Wills to do list, I am able to understand why I do some “quirky” things – my personal profile explains it all – and as my husband chuckled to himself while I shared my day and the specifics of my profile, I know he was thinking… “And your profile surprises you, why?”

Bottom line: I walked away with a greater appreciation of my strengths and perspectives, and most importantly those of my colleagues. GroundFloor Media wouldn’t be one of the Denver Business Journal’s Best Places to Work without the unique blend of each team member’s profile. We complement each other, and our clients, to ensure effectiveness in our business. Thanks to all of my colleagues for continually reminding me that it is important (and ok) to step outside of my analytical and structural box to have some spontaneous, laughable fun!

Wednesday, December 08, 2010

Last week Congress approved a child nutrition bill that will make a significant investment in the National School Lunch program. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act will increase health choices in school cafeterias across the country. This has ignited a discussion across the country and there are few things more entertaining for media than a debate about schools and food. My favorite headline was from the Boston Herald: “Hold the brownies! Bill could limit bake sales.” The lead-in was spectacular: “Don't touch my brownies! A child nutrition bill on its way to President Barack Obama - and championed by the first lady - gives the government power to limit school bake sales and other fundraisers that health advocates say sometimes replace wholesome meals in the lunchroom …” Here’s another quote: "This could be a real train wreck for school districts," Lucy Gettman of the National School Boards Association said Friday, a day after the House cleared the bill. "The federal government should not be in the business of regulating this kind of activity at the local level."

Now I like my brownies and the occasional bake sale. However, I keep hearing John Stossel, former ABC News anchor and current Fox Business host, ranting, “Give me a break!” over and over in my head. This is a groundbreaking piece of bipartisan legislation that will significantly improve the quality of meals that children receive at school and will play an integral role in our efforts to combat childhood obesity. I give the First Lady and the Let’s Move! initiative three cheers. As a parent, how could I stand by and not support a program that provides children across the country access to nutritious food to learn and grow to fulfill their potential?

Want to know the real train wreck? Obesity rates, especially among children and adolescents, have steadily climbed since the early 1990s. Today, many children eat two of three meals at school. School districts are experiencing dwindling resources and are often challenged to feed a large student population with little funding, yet they are tasked with serving food that is affordable, nutritious and appealing to students. Have you been to a school cafeteria lately? Care to name what is actually on the lunch tray?

Here’s something the media can sink its teeth into: The Hunger-Free Kids Act will help support local programs similar to the EatWell@School cooking competition hosted by LiveWell Colorado. This nine-week healthy cooking competition for Denver Public Schools high schools has challenged students to take on creating healthy school meals, as well as providing cooking and nutrition skills that will last a lifetime. The EatWell@School Cooking Competition with Denver Public Schools high school students seeks to raise awareness of the importance of healthy eating at school. The competition will culminate today with a fundraising luncheon, to honor the student competitors and raise funds for LiveWell Colorado’s ongoing mission of promoting healthy eating and active living. I can’t wait to enjoy Martin Luther King Jr. Early College’s winning meal of parmesan and herb crusted chicken with creamy pesto spaghetti and stuffed tomato. YUM!

Tuesday, December 07, 2010

If you're like me, you've been hearing a lot about WikiLeaks in the past few weeks, but the real background and potential ramifications of the site and its contents have been a bit of a jumble, muted against the background of the holiday hustle and bustle. This article from Fast Company, however, quickly snapped me back to professional reality and provided a timely reminder to review communications plans and policies for the companies that we, as public relations professionals, represent.

According to the article, "...Julian Assange said at least half the treasure trove of documents the organization is holding belong to private corporations..." Sometime early next year, WikiLeaks plans to start adding these materials from private corporations to its site. Naturally, I wondered how WikiLeaks got its hands on its first round of materials, and slapped myself on the forehead when I saw this piece from CBS Sunday Morning about 23-year-old Bradley Manning who basically cut and pasted data he found simply searching documents to which he had access on the job.

As part of any fully-rounded communications planning process, we encourage our clients to try to head off crises like leaked documents by developing clear policies about document access and sharing. Of course, given the intersection of confidential documents and social mediums like Facebook, Twitter and wikis, there are no guarantees. In addition to having a reactive crisis plan, we also recommend the following common-sense steps when it comes to internal and external communications strategies:

Remember that anything in writing can be forwarded, copied, saved or rebroadcast

Confidential communications are best handled in person, not via e-mail

Never say anything in an e-mail that you wouldn't want your boss or competitor to read

Engage legal and communications team counsel early for particularly sensitive issues and documents

If a confidential document must be distributed electronically, be sure to watermark it "Draft" and/or "Confidential" and ensure the recipients understand the importance of keeping the document confidential

As we head into the New Year, it's a great time to learn from WikiLeaks and review your communication policies. At GroundFloor Media we'll be doing so on behalf of our own communications as well as for our clients. Don't let your company be the next victim of WikiLeaks!

Wednesday, December 01, 2010

Mid-Season snow conditions by Thanksgiving meant one thing for me and a group of friends this past weekend: turkey in Eagle County. Taking a break between runs at the Dusty Boot (try the mac n’ cheese wedges) a couple of us were discussing all of the special events that ski resorts have planned throughout the season when someone said, “They’ll do anything to get people up here.”

Another friend argued that events like Snow Daze, The World’s Best Chocolate Cookie Competition and Ullr Fest aren’t just a reason to get people to the mountain, but more about providing an experience for the people who were already there. And while I think both opinions are correct, it’s a great argument about customer experience and how brands are truly developed.

Customer experience is really what drives any brand – the look and feel of your product and packaging, the experience customers have with employees, promotions and special events – all of these things. You can’t change it by merely updating your logo or changing your tagline. Your brand is what your customers think about you and your product or service. And while companies can create special events or other ideas to enhance the customer experience, many experiences are going to happen whether you calculated them or not.

The European alpine surroundings and “feel” in Vail (to use one example) are definitely part of its brand, but so are the amount of snow in China Bowl and the often-backed-up lift lines at Chairs 3 & 4. Some of it is controllable, some of it isn’t. That is exactly what I was impressed with over the weekend. The things I experienced that ski resorts can control – amenities, the friendliness and helpfulness of the ski lift staff, hot chocolate at the top of the gondola, the cleanliness of the village, even the crazy special events were top-notch.

My point is that customer experiences and brands can’t be fabricated. They are a result of how a company is run and its commitment to the overall brand experience, not what the company wants its customers to believe. If you want to modify or change your brand, you’ve got to know what your customers currently think about your company, and then make the fundamental changes within your organization to give customers the authentic brand experience you want them to have.

Which ski resort has the best brand? I have three or four favorites, and which one I chose all depends on what type of experience I’m looking for that particular day. It’s great to live in Colorado, isn’t it?

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

On the heels of the Ragan Communication 2nd Annual Employee Communications, PR and Social Media Summit, I am officially facing what CIO Magazine recently dubbed the “Epiphany Half-Life” – the time that passes between an inspiring event and the implementation of new ideas.

You feel it as the opening speaker of a conference psyches you up with new campaigns and best practices – yes, Microsoft spent millions on a Cirque de Soleil marketing spectacle to launch Kinect for Xbox 360, but if they sell five million units this holiday season, the risk will have paid off as the company’s biggest Xbox product launch – wow!

Microsoft-sized dreams do feel possible, particularly when you’re away from the office and listening to some of the leading minds in marketing and communications.

Every speaker talked about transparency, honesty and consistency as core to effective employee communications. These attributes are now more important than ever before as social media and the 24/7 news cycle are driving new ways of connecting with people and sharing information. Today, no one can hide, so why try?

Sara Tatchio, global integrated communications manager for Ford Motor Company, shared that CEO Alan Mulally asks his executives to invite an employee guest to staff meetings – brilliant! And to think he didn’t even need to invest in new technology to put that idea into action. It’s actually not a coincidence that he was recently recognized with the Fortune MagazineBusinessperson of the Year award; Ford used internal communications channels to rally employees together to vote for him.

But, technology can be helpful, and the conference highlighted a handful of new ways to use familiar tools – such as Dell’s use of Saleforce’s CRM Force.com – into employee communications campaigns.

My former employer deployed Microsoft’s My Site to more than 5,000 employees nearly three years ago – no small undertaking – and it stalled. The lack of employee buy-in was not the fault of the technology, but rather the way we used it. Beyond the initial launch, we never created any incentive for employees to return to the site.

To think we could have done something as simple as hyper linking to employee My Site pages from feature articles on the company’s Intranet. Doing so would have directed eyeballs from more familiar Intranet pages to My Site, while also encouraging employees to keep their My Site content up to date. My Site could have helped a company sometimes struggling with employee morale to create a greater sense of connectedness and shared understanding of everyone’s contributions and expertise.Again, brilliant – thank you Deloitte.

With all these fresh (and doable) ideas ripe in my mind, it’s time to avoid the distractions of the holidays and year-end deadlines to share them with my peers and more importantly, our clients.

The Epiphany Half-Life challenges that if inspiration isn’t “put into practice by the end of the first half-life that it will fade into wistful daydream.”*

I’m of the mind that with 21 pages of notes from the event and closing keynote David Pogue’s Britney Spears-inspired jingle, “Oops, I apped it again,” seared in my brain, I’ll have a good chance of extending the first half-life beyond New Years and well into 2011.

Friday, November 12, 2010

I recently attended the Mayo Clinic and Ragan Communications’ second annual Health Care Public Relations, Marketing and Internal Communications Social Media Summit in Jacksonville, Fla., and it got me thinking about the value of professional development. It’s so easy to get so wrapped up in our day-to-day work and our hectic schedules – and often, taking time out for professional development falls to the bottom of our priority list. It sounds like a lovely idea, but who has the time???

My experience at the Mayo/Ragan conference reminded me of the importance of stepping back and taking the time… the time to learn from renowned leaders in the field, the time to share ideas with industry colleagues, and the time to get re-energized about the work we’re doing.

For me, the conference was extremely valuable in that it served to validate that, as an agency, GroundFloor Media has stayed on the proverbial leading-edge when it comes to counseling our health care clients about social media. At the same time, I learned a variety of new tips, tricks and tools from both the speakers and my fellow attendees as we discussed approaches we’ve taken, issues we’ve faced, etc. And, indeed, I returned to Denver energized and excited to share this expanded knowledge with my co-workers and apply it to strategies for clients.

I am grateful that GroundFloor Media places such an importance on professional development – whether it’s membership in a professional organization or participation in a webinar, a local industry group luncheon, or a multi-day workshop in another city. We are encouraged to identify opportunities that will help us strengthen our expertise – and then to take the time to participate in them and share what we learned during a subsequent internal staff lunch & learn.

In addition to the conference I recently attended, one of my colleagues is currently at a conference focused on internal communications. Three of us will be attending a monthly breakfast for health care communicators next week, and yet another is planning to attend a travel-focused social media conference early in 2011. Many of us are also active members of professional organizations including the Colorado chapter of PRSA, Colorado Healthcare Communicators and the Public Relations Global Network (PRGN). All of these activities are invaluable when it comes to ensuring that we continue to stay abreast of the latest trends and developments in the PR/marketing communications industry.

Friday, November 05, 2010

Here’s further proof that the media landscape is continuing to change, reinforcing that the tried and true traditional news mediums are becoming less of a factor in the communications and PR world.

The Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC), considered the gold-standard guide to newspaper circulation numbers, reported this week that from April through September 2010, weekday newspaper circulation numbers across the county dropped 5 percent compared to the previous six months.

It’s a grim story for newspapers, but still a slight improvement from the last report, which showed circulation numbers dropping 10 percent. To put it in perspective, consider the falling numbers are coupled with ballooning expenses in everything from newsprint to employee health benefits.

Only The Wall Street Journal showed a distinct increase in numbers, since the ABC began counting paid online subscriptions in its report.

GroundFloor Media offers a couple of best practices that we can takeaway from the ongoing trend:

• Newspaper pitches must be targeted to specific reporters, and include real news. Shrinking news holes means gone are the days of simply blanketing a nominal press release and expecting some pick-up.

• Consider taking advantage of “On the Move” sections. When I was at the Rocky Mountain News, we had reports showing that these announcement sections were one of the most highly read features of the paper, next to the obituaries (which is an announcement of sorts but not one that we hope to use anytime soon).

• Look for strictly online news publications and citizen journalists to pitch, such as AOL’s DailyFinance or MSNBC.com or Examiner.com. They don’t have newsprint or distribution costs and to a certain extent, their content can be endless. Plus, content lives forever online, and will never be used as fish-wrap.

• Social media is doing the job of newspapers. Use the power of the word-of-mouth sensation of the social media world to announce events or client news.

• The paid online newspaper subscription model is expanding, as newspapers try to recoup loses from the print editions. The Grand Junction Sentinel was the first newspaper in the state to begin charging for most of its online content. The model works for the Wall Street Journal, but it might be an uphill battle for local publications.

Plunging newspaper circulation numbers further acknowledges we live in a multichannel world. The good news is more people are getting news; we just need to be smart about how we reach them.

Tuesday, November 02, 2010

Last week I attended a beautiful funeral service for a good friend’s father. The chapel was standing room only, the flowers, plants and photos of his family were abundant, but the space and décor paled in comparison to the words that were spoken during the 90-minute tribute. Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to spend Memorial Day with this family and was well aware (after a competitive afternoon of washer toss, knockout and listening to funny family stories), of the kind of man he was simply by being a witness to the incredible family dynamics he and his wife of 58 years had created. So as much as I dread funeral services, I found myself looking around the packed chapel curious to know more about what kind of person would command such an unbelievable crowd. Needless to say, I was not disappointed.

The memorial service began with a tribute by his business partner of 32 years and was followed by a moving speech from his older brother. But what was even more touching was that seven of his grandchildren got up in front of the crowd to speak, as did all five of his children. Their eulogies were personal, poignant and full of the specific life lessons he had imparted on each and every one of them. While their stories were all different, they shared a theme that couldn’t be missed. It was a theme of compassion, acceptance, and kindness to all o fthose he encountered; unbridled love and commitment to his family, and a strong work ethic (he was still happily working at age 78) where his business associates were treated as family.

So I ask myself – in your business and your professional life – does it really matter what awards you win? What titles you hold? What contracts you secure? The size of your paycheck or the year-end revenue you report? At the end of the day – or your day as the case may be – you won’t be remembered for these things. You will be remembered, as was this amazing man, by the friends you keep, the kindness you show, the quality of time you spend with friends and family and the legacy and lessons you leave your children and grandchildren. It really is that simple.

Monday, November 01, 2010

Americans are fat. I said it. Fat. I know it, you know it,the world knows it. I know, it is a dirty word that people don’t like to talk about and as marketers we now use the term “health and wellness.” I suppose that is much easier to swallow. No pun intended. However, research supports this accusation. George Washington University researchers did a study on the overall cost of obesity that also added in things like employee sick days, lost productivity, even the need for extra gasoline — and found the annual cost of being obese is $4,879 for a woman and $2,646 for a man. Ouch! Another study done by John Cawley of Cornell University and Chad Meyerhoefer of Lehigh University released last week by the National Bureau of Economic Research, estimates that nearly 17 percent of U.S. medical costs can be blamed on obesity.

It’s not all doom and gloom. There are great healthy food choices to eat. I’m all for snacks. (And a little chocolate on the side.) Many of us remember walking or riding our bikes to school and playing outside until the sun went down. There is life beyond cable TV. People are starting to take notice and communities are fighting back. That is the beauty of grassroots movements and a tremendous opportunity for communication professionals working with these organizations as well as with businesses as they launch new products and services supporting the health and wellness cause. There are many stories to tell from revitalizing neighborhoods, eliminating “food deserts,” retraining lunch ladies, reviewing the built environment, and creating food policy councils, initiating small changes and lifestyle makeovers. But this goes beyond telling a good story and educating the public about smart choices. What’s our role in this as marketers?

As a communication professional, I can appreciate the value of good food marketing. Even my kids pick the carrots in a Dora the Explorer bag over the generic store brand. What I don’t like are the cereal boxes at kid eye-level with the Disney characters. In fact, I’d rather take my kids down the toy aisle than walk the cereal aisle. If you haven’t read Dr. Mark Hyman’s article in the Huffington Post, Obesity in America: Are Factory Farms, Big Pharma and Big Food to Blame?, I encourage you to do so. In the article two things grabbed my attention:

"Stop food advertising to children. Food marketing directed at children should be banned (through the FTC). This has been done in over 50 countries across the globe including Australia, the Netherlands, and Sweden. We should follow suit. The FDA should also restrict unproven health claims on labels.

End irresponsible relationships between medicine and industry. Public health organizations like the American Heart Association and the American Dietetic Association should avoid partnerships, endorsements, or financial ties with industry that compromises their independence and credibility. Coca-Cola sponsoring events at the American Dietetic Association, or the American Heart Association promoting chocolate sugary cereals as heart healthy because they have a few grains of whole wheat--is this credible?"

It’s hard to admit that our profession may have greatly impacted and added to the obesity epidemic. Dr. Hyman challenges us to be more creative and to develop an economy based on products and services that make people thin and healthy. We can support grassroot movements, back solid programming, promote healthy products and services and tell their stories.

I’ve had the good fortune to spend time with Dr. James Hill, professor of pediatrics and medicine, University of Colorado, and executive director, Anschutz Medical Campus Health and Wellness Center, and have become a fan of his small changes concept. Dr. Hill aims to inspire Americans to make small changes in how much they eat and how much they move to prevent weight gain. What a simple yet big concept that has millions of marketing applications.

We must be advocates for change within the marketing industry. The next time you hold a brainstorm for a client, think through the big and small ideas and trends and creative partnerships that truly align with not only your client’s business objectives but are innovative and are sustainable from a socially responsible perspective. We can help shape our future through our creative campaigns and advocacy efforts. Our overall health demands it.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter can serve as powerful tools for bridging the gap between generations. Brands that are missing the “cool” factor of years gone by can turn to social media to help reinvigorate a fan base, modernize their “voice,” and connect with an entirely new fan base.

One such brand that comes to mind is Kendall Motor Oil (disclaimer: a former client of mine). Kendall has been around since 1881 and in today’s “do it for me” culture of Jiffy Lube oil changes, younger drivers are less likely to learn (or want to learn) how to change their own oil or accompany dad to the local auto parts store to pick up a quart of transmission fluid. Recognizing this challenge, Kendall has recently done a great job of tapping into the power of Facebook to promote new viral videos, share vintage photos and cool historical brand facts, and generate awareness for its grassroots racing program.

Why the background on Kendall? Because on Sunday evening I randomly stumbled upon a very different – and less positive – example of how social media can connect different generations. While Twitter-surfing instead of watching “The Amazing Race” (thanks to a busted flat screen) I came across a tweet tagged with #BooNestle. I clicked on the link thinking it was a fun Halloween candy promotion, only to learn that it was promoting a decades-old boycott on Nestle products, including candy (there’s your timely Halloween tie) and infant formula. Some additional digging via the #NoNestle hashtag revealed a Sunday Twitter chat dedicated solely to this boycott. One blog even gave numerous offline suggestions for aligning with the boycott, such as window signs for display on Halloween that identify a house as a “Nestle Free” zone with a list of fair-trade candy options.

I won’t get into the history of the debate here, but what I will say is that I was momentarily floored that as a late twenty-something, unmarried with no kids, I was instantly connected to hundreds of women (mainly moms) who are vehemently against purchasing Nestle brands for their families. I never set out on Sunday evening to join the boycott, but after sending a few inquiring #BooNestle tweets and reading the back-story on how and why this movement started, I was involved.

As a PR professional, I am keenly aware of the power of social media and how it can in some cases, make or break a brand depending on how a company deals with an online crisis. I live and breathe it every single day. However, there are still many moments in my “personal” social media explorations that cause me to step back for a moment and think, “Wow, this movement is both incredibly exciting and simultaneously daunting.”

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

I am a straight shooter—it’s not good and it’s also not necessarily bad. It is just who I am. But, I didn’t start out that way. In fact, when I started GroundFloor Media I used to get this undeniable pit in the bottom of my stomach when I knew that the inevitable conversation needed to happen. It didn’t matter if it was a disagreement with a team member, a level set with a client, or a frank discussion with one of our competitors. I despised the thought of having to talk openly and honestly about the issue at hand. I used to toss and turn at night trying to figure out the best way to approach it, the proof points that I should use, the setting in which it should happen and even if it was the right decision to have the conversation at all.

Three years ago we were managing a national project for a very large client and in that role,we managed multiple vendors who reported up to our team. Without delving into the details, there was an error that was made on location by one of the client’s vendors they had asked us to manage. The client was furious at our team and the cost of the mistake was significant. I received a call from our team lead early that morning to warn me that a lengthy e-mail was waiting for me in my in box – an e-mail that 26 people were copied on (including the CMO). Needless to say, by this time I understood what had happened and where the fault ultimately fell. However, in a split second I knew that the tough conversation needed to happen immediately and no matter who was at fault, we needed to take the blame and cover the cost. I wrote a response, owned up to our responsibility and offered to cover the cost.

I didn’t have time to even think about it. It was simply the right thing to do.

At that moment I also realized that all tough conversations needed to be like this. The longer you wait to either own something or address something, the worse it can get. I am still far from perfect and find myself fretting over the ‘how’ when that knot in my stomach creeps up, but it does get easier.

Any professional service position requires a commitment to personalize the situation and address any concerns head on. I continue to make mistakes, but I have learned that if something seems out of alignment, it is better to rip the Band-Aid off and have the courage to address it. Once I stopped fretting about the right words to use and spoke from my heart, it became a lot easier to take feedback, own my role in it and try to find a solution.

We are fortunate to have clients that believe this type of communication is not only important, but also necessary. They aren’t afraid to call us on our mistakes and ask us to let them know when we are off base. These frank and transparent conversations are often the turning point that leads us down the road of a trusting, long-lasting relationship.

If you have that knot in your stomach and are trying to figure out how to bridge the gap and start the dialogue, I encourage you to jump in and do it now. I can almost guarantee that not only will you feel better afterward, but also that your relationship and partnership will take a turn for the better.

1) Everyone is a photojournalistThis isn’t anything new to most of us, but I was still amazed at the number of phones/cameras/videos that were used by the crowd during every act. It’s amazing to be able to share experiences with such immediacy, but it is also a good reminder of two things: The camera is always on, and media lives online forever. Keep those things in mind when putting together your crisis communication plan.

2) Twitter as a social media “funnel”It’s exciting to see how social media is being used at events of this magnitude. Contests, geotagging, instant photos and videos, real-time updates on “special guest” appearances…you name it, it was happening. The problem for most of us is how difficult it can be to keep up with so much content on so many different social media platforms – many of which you don’t even find out about until after the fact, if at all. Kudos to the folks running @aclfestival for taking so much content (from vendors, artists, attendees, music lovers and the City of Austin itself) and funneling it into one channel. It made the overall experience that much more enjoyable.

3) Mobile handcuffsGiven #1 and #2 above, it’s unfortunate when your mobile phone’s network can’t handle mass amounts of traffic. I won’t name my phone carrier (*wink*) but there were times when I couldn’t even send text messages on my iPhone, let alone post videos to Facebook or check in on FourSquare. It’s definitely not the end of the world when you can’t boast to your social network about being in the fifth row at M.I.A., but it is another good reminder for your crisis communication plan: what do you do when cell phones don’t work because of a network overload or otherwise?

4) I love a good planMost of us never notice the event planning aspects of a giant event until something is going wrong. I didn’t notice much of anything other than good music, good food and cold drinks. Kudos to the ACL planners for putting the food away from the music, having a TON of free water stations, recycling options galore, good traffic paths, great public transportation and even having a large tented area for people to get out of the sun for a while. We always talk at GFM about how the little things are what make the difference between a successful event and a great event. ACL was a great event.

5)Old school social “media”I saw one of the best shows I attended all weekend (Miike Snow) not as a result of Twitter chatter or viral promotions, but as a result of a referral from a 20-something passenger on the plane ride to Austin. The lesson, as always, is get out there and meet people, talk to people and network…you never know what might come from it.

I was inspired by the stories I heard and the willingness of the women to share all of their ‘growth pain’ stories with the larger group– the good, the bad and the ugly. Since I started GroundFloor Media in April 2001, I have relied on my network of women to help guide me and serve as my informal ‘kitchen cabinet’ on issues that face many entrepreneurs – woman or man. How do you juggle work and family life? How do you know when to take on an employee that isn’t billable to a client? How do you purchase real estate and structure contracts with sub tenants? How do you manage the complexities and struggles of a divorce while building a business and raising a young child? While I am grateful to the male advisors I have surrounded myself with primarily through my involvement with EO Colorado, it is generally the women in my life that offer the necessary story telling and the fact giving that provide those coveted words of wisdom. In my experience, women have never been afraid to mix business and personal lives because they tend to know that – for an entrepreneur – the two can’t exist without one another. And women aren’t afraid to tell you just how hard – and rewarding – this life we have chosen can be.

This ability to view situations from both a personal and professional lens is a critical component to owning a business. The grey areas are vast and the inability to recognize that aspect can take down a company. I wonder if this is one of the many reasons that the growth of women-owned firms outpaces those for men – according to a new Department of Commerce survey . In fact, the number of women-owned businesses increased 44% from 1977 to 2007 and added 500,000 jobs. Meanwhile, the number of man-owned businesses increased 22% and lost 2 million jobs. Why? Well, there are probably many reasons. However, if the Get Connected event was any indication, I believe it is because women inspire one other to take chances. Thanks to all of the women in my kitchen cabinet who have inspired me to take a chance or two. It has all been worth it.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

As discussed on the GroundFloor Media blog on Sept. 29, the nationwide debate on education reform is once again poised to reach a fever pitch. Last week, the documentary movie, “Waiting for Superman,” was released nationwide, and today, controversial school superintendent, Michelle Rhee, announced her resignation in Washington, D.C.

However, the fervor has been brewing for weeks, if not months and years. Last month, The New York Times Magazine focused entirely on issues related to education and technology, challenging conventional beliefs about the way students learn. And in its November issue, Vanity Fair recognizes Wendy Kopp, founder and chief executive officer of Teach for America for 20 years of classroom innovation and leadership – education reform is making it big.

But wasn’t that the case in 1989 when the movie “Lean On Me” captured Morgan Freeman as hard-driving, New Jersey school principal, Joe Clark, introducing him and the plight of our public schools to millions of Americans? The question I keep asking is, “What makes a movement and when will we finally listen enough to take lasting action?”

At last night’s screening of “Waiting for Superman,” acclaimed director and producer, Davis Guggenheim of “The Inconvenient Truth,” opened the movie with brief remarks, encouraging Coloradans to take action because “Colorado Kids Can’t Wait.” The Colorado Children’s Campaign is a driving force behind the “Colorado Kids Can’t Wait” campaign, and it had the vision and foresight to schedule Guggenheim as the keynote speaker for its 25th anniversary luncheon today.

Guggenheim’s visit to Colorado, combined with statewide screenings of the movie, are likely to do more to increase public awareness about the state of Colorado schools than all the publicly-funded initiatives of the past several years. I should know, I worked for Colorado Commission on Higher Education five years ago and since then, the statistics have not changed – nearly 25 percent of Colorado kids fail to graduate from high school, and an even greater percentage never go on to college.

So, how do we move the needle? For all of Kopp’s efforts and achievements, why is she just now making it in the “Hall of Fame” column of Vanity Fair, when Lindsay Lohan only had to skip bail to make the cover?

Creating news is tricky and encouraging action is even more difficult.

Whether promoting new products, or issues near and dear to our hearts, we need to convey passion and inspire commitment – and the Colorado Children’s Campaign is doing just that this week. The campaign has undertaken a multi-pronged approach that includes media relations, event planning, social media and community outreach in a personally engaging way. They have joined forces with like-minded partners, because the collective is louder than one person or group. They have backed up an alarming message with inspirational speakers and statistics – both local and national – putting a face on the campaign and scheduling their efforts at a time when the state and the nation can’t help but notice.

Executing a campaign of this scale and reach takes time and the team over at the Colorado Children’s Campaign has been working for nearly a year to make the momentum of the past week possible. This approach is instructive as we work with our clients to create news campaigns and make a lasting impression.

Without imploring anyone to agree or disagree with the content – go see the movie! We’re eager to hear how it inspires you. Comment below and share your thoughts with us.

Wednesday, October 06, 2010

Being a teen is tough. I recall ups and downs of my own teen years – experiencing every emotion from the elation of being asked to prom by the captain of the football team to the lows of being shoved into a locker over and over by a bullying girl. While the lows still sting, I have to admit that I wasn’t entirely innocent, having joined some other girls in mocking the bully in part for the way she dressed.

In high school, a boy in our class was bullied so much that we were warned at graduation that in his fragile state we should all be on high alert that he might take action to retaliate against the class. Worried about our own safety, I can’t recall one classmate – or for that matter a teacher – who reached out to support the bullied boy – instead alienating him even further at what should have been among the most wonderful milestones of his young life.

Looking back on these experiences, I feel pain for the targets of my own and others’ bullying – but I simply cannot fathom the magnification teens feel today in the white hot spotlight that can be created by social media. Sadly, Tyler Clementi, an 18-year-old student at Rutgers University, became a symbol for just how badly social media can sting by taking his own life after a very personal experience was broadcast via live, streaming video.

As a new parent, my insides simply seize up over the obstacles that my son could face as he finds his place in this world. The rise in social media makes him vulnerable to cyber bullying, online predators and so much more. As a professional whose world revolves largely around social media on a daily basis, I’ve struggled to remind myself of the positive side of this revolution as I look ahead to how to address this new parenting challenge.

“CBS Sunday Morning” did a great story on teen suicide prevention this weekend, alerting me to the organization To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA), which has done an outstanding job creating a safe place in a medium where, although potentially filled with landmines, teens often do feel solace – the Internet.

Additionally, Ellen DeGeneres has created a compelling video that employs both an appeal to people to stop bullying as well as a strong message to those who feel bullied: “I know how you feel, and there is help out there. Things will get easier, people’s minds will change, and you should be alive to see it.” I’ve seen this video spread by friends and family all over Facebook and Twitter – proving that a simple one minute 45 second video shared via social media can have an impact.

With these simple videos and social media posts – not to mention a text-to-give campaign also being promoted by Ellen – these celebrities and many others are making waves and rallying support all through the medium that just last week showed its dark side.

As we march forward as public relations professionals and stewards of social media – both personally and professionally – it’s imperative to be mindful of the impact our actions have both on and offline. Whether you’re blogging personally, creating a Facebook strategy for a client, or simply sending e-mails back and forth with colleagues, keep in mind that the simplest slip can have a strong impact. Whether that impact makes the world better is entirely up to you.

Friday, October 01, 2010

If a picture is worth a thousand words, what is a simple word of thanks worth? I like this quote from Voltaire: “Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.”

Giving that unexpected thanks can make someone’s day and gain a customer for life. Last year, I was on a search for a new hair stylist after my stylist of 13 years moved away. You can only imagine this VIP task. After visiting Brooke at The Parlour Denver and a fabulous haircut, I received a written thank you note…in the mail. Really! I’ve referred a dozen people to her. I hope she never moves, leaves or changes her career, or I will be devastated.

I often meet with recent graduates seeking to get their foot in the door for public relations and am surprised at the lack of basic follow-up etiquette. More than half never say thank you, even via email. Less than a third send a thank you note. Guess what? Their resume and future referrals go in the “round receptacle.” I’ve had to tell job seekers to ask for business cards when meeting with people and to follow up with a written thank you note. It surprises me that everyone hasn’t read, or at least heard of, Emily Post.

If you take the time to network for a new job, pitch new business, expand existing business, etc., say thanks and pay attention to the other small stuff. When was the last time you had a live conversation rather than an all e-mail correspondence day? Here’s an idea: pick up the phone. Do you celebrate your colleagues’ and clients’ birthdays? Remember to ask about an anniversary or other holiday functions when a colleague or client mentions it in a prior meeting? And lastly, be present! I’m all for multitasking, just not in meetings – though I am a frequent violator of my own good advice. Try going to your next meeting sans your technology. Take a pen and paper for notes. It will do your brain good, as well as serve as an example to those around you.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Over the past few weeks the buzz surrounding the opening of Davis Guggenheim’s “Waiting for Superman” has been great. Whether it be the New York Times’ movie review or “NBC News” dedicating a week of coverage to education reform with its Education Nation series, the focus has not only been on the politics of education reform and the role of government in fixing the issue, but more importantly the need for everyday people and the business community to respond to challenges facing our communities. It serves as a reminder that you could be the Superman or Superwoman that your community needs.

This past weekend I participated in Slow Food USA’s Dig Day of national service. The Slow Food Denver chapter recruited volunteers to build garden sinks and garden signs that would then be distributed to some of the schools participating in Denver Public School’s school gardens program. The beauty of this day was the diversity of the volunteers. The group consisted of a few families from the local school, members of the Slow Food Denver chapter and about 25 members of the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation’s 2010 Impact Denver and Leadership Denver classes. Both classes selected two schools to support that are currently participating in the school garden program. Although some of us have school-aged children that may or may not attend schools within the district, more than not, we chose the projects because of the importance of supporting public schools and the recognition of a school’s impact on its surrounding community.

Our day was such a success not only because of the hardworking volunteers, but also because of companies like CH2M HILL that donated materials and Whole Foods and Noodles & Company that provided lunch and dessert to make it all happen. The end result of this day didn’t come from a vote or debate, but instead from the strong desire of everyday people to make a difference in their community.

On Sunday, I took a few minutes to watch “Meet the Press.” I will admit that I am caught up in the buzz and can’t wait for “Waiting for Superman” to open in Denver. David Gregory was reporting from New York as part of the NBC coverage dedicated to education reform. As expected, Gregory asked his questions of administration leaders, school reformers and union heads, but Gregory said it best as he closed out the show, “… if you drive by a public school, even if your kids don't go there, walk in and ask how you can help, whether you can tutor or provide resources to a teacher.”

Whether it be public schools or other issues impacting your community – Are you ready to take Gregory’s advice and walk through the doors to be that Superman or Superwoman?

Thursday, September 23, 2010

A former boss of mine (at a nonprofit) once declared that I have the “nonprofit gene” – meaning I was willing to forego a for-profit income for the chance to live out my passion on a “nonprofit salary.” And while I now work in the for-profit sector, I like to think I still have that gene – it just manifests itself now through my interest in cause marketing. That interest leads me to follow a number of different cause marketing blogs and other resources, and I was particularly intrigued by Cone’s recent release of its 2010 Cause Evolution Study.

Happily, it revealed that even with the tough economy of the past few years, cause marketing is alive and well – and still very much supported by consumers. Some of the encouraging statistics revealed by the study include:• 88 percent of Americans say it is acceptable for companies to involve a cause or issue in their marketing• 85 percent have a more positive image of a product or company when it supports a cause they care about• 80 percent are likely to switch brands, similar in price and quality, to one that supports a cause• 61 percent say they would be willing to try a new brand or one unfamiliar to them when it supports a cause

Drilling down a bit further, the study reveals the market segments that are largely driving this support for cause marketing initiatives:• Moms: 95 percent of moms find cause marketing acceptable (vs. 88 percent average), and 92 percent want to buy a product supporting a cause (vs. 81 percent average). In addition, moms purchased more cause-related products in the past year than any other demographic (61 percent vs. 41 percent average).• Millennials (18-24 years old): 94 percent find cause marketing acceptable (vs. 88 percent average), and more than half (53 percent) have bought a product benefiting a cause this year (vs. 41 percent average).

Beyond the consumer, cause marketing can play an important role in recruiting and retention as well. In fact, 69 percent of Americans consider a company’s social and environmental commitments when deciding where to work. Perhaps even more compelling – 92 percent of employees say they feel a strong sense of loyalty to their company (vs. 61 percent for those whose companies are not involved in supporting a cause).

It seems that more and more companies are understanding just how powerful cause marketing can be – in terms of social good, yes, but also in terms of benefit to the company’s bottom line and employee satisfaction. At GroundFloor Media, we work with a number of nonprofit agencies in various capacities, and it is always gratifying to see the support they receive from other for-profit companies. For instance, we’ve watched our pro bono partner, Tennyson Center for Children, develop wonderful, mutually beneficial partnerships with several for-profit companies over the years, including Noble Energy, PCL Construction Enterprises and Blu SKY Restoration Contractors.

Finally, in advising clients regarding cause marketing endeavors, we always encourage them to select a nonprofit or overall cause that aligns well with their business and target market. For instance with our client Qdoba, GroundFloor Media administered an extensive Zoomerang survey to 7,500 franchise and corporate employees to determine what cause Qdoba employees were most passionate about. Upon completion of the survey, youth and family initiatives were identified as the chosen area of charity focus, and Starlight Children’s Foundation was ultimately chosen to be Qdoba’s national nonprofit partner. The results of the Cone survey support this approach – 91 percent of respondents said that a company should consider supporting an issue that is a) important in the communities where it does business, as well as b) one that is aligned with its business practices.

What about your experience with cause marketing? Does what you’ve seen in the marketplace reflect the results of the Cone study? We’d like to hear your thoughts!

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Yes, traditional news media is dying, but the news part is alive and well and even thriving on a variety of online mediums. Recently a new Pew Research Center study looked at trends around how Americans get their news. What I found most interesting were the results: the impact of digital platforms on traditional news sources. As a former newspaper journalist, I know first-hand that fewer people are reading the paper, but this survey confirms that the public is just getting their news from other sources. And more people are following the news.

The study shows that on a given day Americans spend 57 minutes getting news from television, newspapers and radio. That time has remained constant for the last decade. But the study found people are adding an additional 13 minutes of news consumption gathered from the Web. And the online numbers, as the survey report notes, do not include time spent getting news on cell phones or other digital devices, the arena where news producers are now focusing so much of their effort and seeing so much potential.Some of the study’s highlights include:

• 83 percent are getting news from a wider variety of sources• 34 percent of the public say they went online for news – on par with radio and slightly higher than daily newspapers• When cell phones, email, social networks and podcasts are added in, 44% of Americans say they got news through one or more internet or mobile digital sources• 26 percent said they read an actual newspaper, down from 38 percent in 2006• While 26 percent of all Americans say they read a print newspaper, that figure falls to just 8 percent among adults younger than 30• 37 percent said they got news from a newspaper, including online editions, down from 43 percent in 2006• 19 percent said they read a magazine, down from 33 percent in 1994• 75 percent of Americans report getting news from one or more of these mediums: 58 percent watching television news, 34 percent listening to news on the radio, and 26 percent reading a print newspaper. This compares to the 44 percent who got news via the Internet or another digital platform.

What does it mean for the future of our industry? We recently worked with a GroundFloor Media client to get an editorial placed in the online version of a newspaper, and the results were overwhelming. The piece showed up on searches, RSS feeds and was rebroadcast on a variety of sites. Before, we would have simply tried to get it placed in the print publication, and as many of you know, not an easy task given the shrinking newspaper space. But now, we have more, and sometimes better options in the online world. And as this study supports, that’s were people are going for news anyway.

Thursday, September 09, 2010

The continuously blurring lines between traditional and social media have never been more apparent to me than this past Monday (Labor Day) around noon MT. I was killing time at home between errands and decided to check my Twitter feed. Countless tweets tagged with #BoulderFire caught my eye and it became clear that a dangerous and destructive wildfire had broken out in the foothills.

The “traditional” side of me quickly turned on the television and I began furiously flipping through the local stations to find out more details. What did I find? Nothing. I couldn’t find a single station that had broken through the horrendous Monday afternoon television choices to report live from Boulder. So, the social media geek in me settled in on the couch, iPhone in hand, and read what seemed like hundreds of #BoulderFire tweets.

Information poured across my HootSuite dashboard faster than I could refresh the stream—evacuation details, TwitPic and YFrog images of the smoke and flames, animal rescue instructions, and Mile High Red Cross shelter announcements for evacuees. A few local Denver TV stations did seem to take notice of the social media groundswell regarding the fire and began retweeting first-hand accounts and important instructions. However, virtually witnessing the local and regional support from every day citizens was a powerful and exciting experience for me personally. Twitter was uniting Boulder and surrounding counties in real-time to come to the aid of those impacted.

Since Monday I’ve been monitoring the fires almost exclusively on Twitter. Some of my favorite updates include:

@alicia4181: I only know of the boulder fire because of twitter

@5280PRGal: Why do hurricanes get huge media coverage, yet I haven't seen much mention of the #boulderfire on @cnn @foxnews

@HumaneBoulder: For help w/pets 2nite call Dispatch 303-441-3333 Pets will be housed either here or transported by officer to @LongmontHumane #boulderfire

@jasper9: Is there a list of businesses offering assistance for #boulderfire anywhere? if not, lets get a public google doc going

@MelindaJordan: RT @lostremote: Twitter is playing a key role in #boulderfire, from evacuation alerts to independent reporting. http://bit.ly/9Xo9KG

@laurasrecipes: Just feeling so proud of this community...in awe of generosity, high tech information flow and amazing joining together...#BoulderFire

My prayers go out to everyone affected by this fire and I urge our local social media community to continue this virtual newsgathering and support system long after the TV trucks move to the next big story. If you know of any ways that @GroundFloorPR can help, please let us know. We would also appreciate your help in spreading the word about a fantastic effort by the Colorado Fall Home Show (@cogardenshowinc) to help with fire relief efforts. The Colorado Fall Home Show (presented by Colorado Garden Show Inc.), running this weekend (Sept. 10 – 12) at the Colorado Convention Center, announced it will donate $2.00 of every ticket sale to the Colorado Red Cross to help with relief efforts for the wildfire near Boulder. Thanks for your help!

Wednesday, September 08, 2010

The day I graduated from college, I took off with a backpack full of clothes, a pair of old running shoes, and a Let’s Go Guidebook and headed toward the Southwestern Pacific Ocean to New Zealand. I immediately fell in love with the South Island and decided that I would channel my past four years of higher education into a job working as a jet boat assistant in Queenstown. Needless to say, I called home to tell my parents of my grand plans and found out that their intentions for me appeared to be quite a bit different. So, after six weeks of wandering somewhat aimlessly, I was nicely reminded to get my rear end back on a plane. My time had come to get a real job and so I headed off to Washington, DC and started sending out resume after resume. Looking back I wish someone would have sat me down and politely explained the unspoken rules of interviewing.

I now have the opportunity to meet with plenty of young job seekers for informational interviews and have gathered some entertaining stories through the years. I have compiled a few tips to consider when you are interviewing for a position or simply meeting someone for an informational appointment.

Forget to ask questions. But avoid questions whose answers can easily be found on the company website.

Ask questions about salary and benefits unless you receive a job offer. It is presumptuous and annoys the person across from you.

Challenge the interviewer to a competitive match (I once had someone show up with a little Ms. Pac Man game and challenged me to play with him because he had read that it was my favorite pastime).

Give overly rehearsed and prepared answers. You come across sounding scripted and unauthentic.

Ask to borrow cab fare.

DO

Research the company you are meeting. Understand their competitors and their clients.

Practice interview questions with a friend or relative, or practice answering questions alone in the car. Folks may think you look strange, but it is well worth the extra effort.

Be aware of your body language. Don’t slouch. Maintain eye contact.

Be on time for your interview (or even a little early).

Avoid nervous habits such as tapping your fingers, pulling on your hair or playing with a pen.

Keep the interview positive. Please do not make negative remarks about any previous jobs, employers or colleagues.

Use proper English—avoid slang or jargon.

Treat the receptionist the same as you would the CEO.

Follow up with a handwritten thank you note. This is not only proper etiquette and a common display of appreciation, but it also allows you to reaffirm one or two key points you talked about in the interview.

End quickly and courteously. Do not linger. Thank your interviewer for the meeting with a strong handshake and a smile.

This list could go on forever – there is literally an endless array of “dos” and “don’ts” for an interview – and not everyone agrees on every aspect of that list. However, some basic “interview etiquette” tips that are important to remember are listed here.

If you want more, don’t forget to check out Andrew Hudson’s job site. He is always full of great tips…

Thursday, September 02, 2010

It’s hard to believe summer is almost over and it is back to school time. During a teacher conference for my son to prepare him to head back to the classroom, I saw a poster Robert Fulghum’s “All I really need to know I learned in Kindergarten,” and thought it provided great wisdom for all ages and stages. It has been a long time since I read it and I wanted to share and reflect on its message. Everything you need to know to be successful at home and in business is in there somewhere. Here’s the text:

All I really need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sand pile at school.

These are the things I learned: • Share everything. • Play fair. • Don't hit people. • Put things back where you found them. • Clean up your own mess. • Don't take things that aren't yours. • Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody. • Wash your hands before you eat. • Flush. • Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you. • Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some. • Take a nap every afternoon. • When you go out in the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together. • Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the styrofoam cup: the roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that. • Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup - they all die. So do we. • And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned - the biggest word of all - LOOK.

Just think what a better workplace or home life we’d have if we took the time to learn something new every day, be creative for an hour in the afternoon, or open our minds and just wonder. Are you sharing successes with your colleagues? Are you taking the time to LOOK and more importantly LISTEN before you make decisions or give directions to your team?

Friday, August 27, 2010

As a child, my father would often try to explain his job and teach me about how the stock market works. I would always get lost in his example of trading fictitious pencils and erasers, but the part about bull and bear markets – or upward and downward trends – made sense. Bulls were rambunctious and bears lumbered, plain enough.

So, I was surprised while reading The Wall Street Journal when I came across an entirely new term, “black swan,” to describe drastic market upheavals, such as the Sept. 11 attacks, Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and the 1987 stock market crash – wait, I thought that was “Black Monday” – OK, this is all becoming very confusing.

The article described that the term black swan hails from the historic belief that all swans are white – a claim that was obviously false when European explorers discovered black swans in Australia.

The gist: Anything is possible. In fact, big surprises are more common than people think.

This notion caused me to think about the current upheaval in media and communications, largely wrought by the rise of the Internet. Newsrooms are shrinking, user-generated content continues to dominate online channels, and now Facebook has launched Places as a new location tracking service, the likes of Gowalla and Foursquare, to find friends and share your location with the rest of the world. But that’s a whole other blog post!

Stock market investors have the benefit of hindsight in knowing that financial markets will ebb and flow, and also rebound from dramatic black swan-type events. But not since the printing press have we experienced such dramatic change in communications. What will become of this current upheaval in the way we distribute and share information?

I imagine that more is to come in mobile communications and that both traditional and new media content sources will need to be even savvier at delivering news and information to small-format devices. I also expect the ongoing convergence of home entertainment and computing technology – whether it’s broadcast-quality TV from our laptops or computing from our flat screens. This is one thing that “Back to the Future II” got right.

Regardless, it’s safe to say that media and communications are in for continued black swan moments and that we shouldn’t expect a return to the past with a bear market any time soon.

So as PR professionals, this constant change translates into a new way of doing business. We cannot rely exclusively on a toolkit of proven best practices. To stay ahead of our industry’s own black swan moment, we need to continue to evolve our skills and use new and emerging resources to the best of our ability to meet the needs of our clients.

As an example of this new paradigm, our client Qdoba Mexican Grill recently launched a new campaign to fight burrito boredom – check it out! The campaign combines word-of-mouth marketing with online surveys and social media to keep burritos top-of-mind – a good example of how our jobs are evolving to get you (and reporters) to think differently about new and existing products and services.

Friday, August 20, 2010

My little brother got married in May. Ten minutes before he was set to walk down the aisle, his pants broke. Wide open. As you can imagine, it was a melee trying to find a solution so he could make it down the aisle, say his “I Dos” and find a longer-term option for the reception. We searched high and low for a seamstress that we could pull out of the pew for a quick mend, but apparently there wasn’t one on the guest list. In a last ditch effort; we opted for the thing that always holds things together when you are in a pinch – the safety pin.

It’s an amazing little invention, the safety pin. It’s not ostentatious, doesn’t command the limelight and always seems to appear just when you need it the most. In a nutshell - it fixes things.

I wish every company had a job description for a safety pin.

As I look at the team at GroundFloor Media, I am reminded how invaluable these character traits are in a person and a colleague. Who is the safety pin in your office? On your team? In your life? Take a moment and send that person thanks for always keeping it together and for fixing things when nothing else seems to work.

You might even give them a small safety pin as a token of thanks for who they are and what they do for you. They may not light up in the same way they would should you show up with a bouquet of sunflowers, but once you take the time to explain it, it may mean far more than you could ever imagine.

Friday, August 13, 2010

In between what has seemed like nonstop client crises and dealing with some serious things in my personal life, I’ve been reminded frequently over the past several weeks that simply doing the right thing is highly underrated.

It sounds simple, right? Just do the right thing. But in the business world and even in our personal lives, it’s very easy to let selfishness, profits or that next big promotion, drive our actions rather than focusing on what is right. Some might argue that “right” and “wrong” have different meanings to different people, but I would say that’s just a way of complicating a very simple concept.

Does the “right thing” mean waiting for regulators in your industry to implement new standards, and then complying fully with the new regulations? Or is it taking a look at your business, proactively, and setting your own standards despite what your competitors are doing or how it might affect your bottom line?

If one of your employees is going through a tough stretch personally, is it enough to provide personal days, as outlined in your employee handbook, so he/she can sort things out? Or do you pull the employee aside and really ask him/her “what can I do for you and how can we help you get through this?”

Real life examples of this concept are outlined extremely well in a book that I started re-reading this week. Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman is the business biography of Yvon Chouinard, founder and owner of Patagonia. It’s a compelling story of how the outdoor clothing/gear business was built, almost by accident, and how the closest thing he had to a business plan for decades was this: Patagonia and its employees have the means and the will to prove to the rest of the business world that doing the right thing makes for good and profitable business. It’s a great read for business owners, managers or anyone who might need a little perspective on how doing the right thing doesn’t have to be difficult.

Call it karma, the Golden Rule or simply doing good… whatever it is, we could all benefit from taking a step back a little more frequently and asking ourselves “what is the right thing to do?”